Ben and Lucy: The Sunken Kingdom
Chapter 24 Companions

The darkness began to play tricks on his mind. Did he really see Ben? Charnac knew that it was possible. Anything was possible in this land. The fantastic and now the evil. Charnac had spent days in this dark, dank place ever since he was taken captive. He also knew Ben and Lucy were still safe for Shamus was still questioning him about the “twins”. If Shamus had the twins then he would not need to keep Charnac alive. Everyday that passed the better. Charnac did have a fear that Shamus would lose his patience and then who knows what would happen.

Charnac shifted his body, bringing pain to his ribs. Shamus had a way of afflicting pain without causing serious injuries. Shamus had mastered this art through all the years he was silent in the north. The rest of the regions of Zhunanium were safe and had lived their lives free from fear. That had slowly changed as word spread that Shamus was growing restless in the north. The exiles had been slowly making their way out of the north and into the southern regions and with them came the stories of abuse and torture.

Charnac had been tortured himself for the past few days. A guard would come and gather him up and lead him to another cell down the hall and up a few stairs. As the guard would drag Charnac along, often tugging enough to make Charnac stumble, the beastly guard would chuckle to himself. The foul breath would billow out of his slobbering mouth. Thankfully Charnac was not in front of that mouth, being in the same proximity was bad enough but not in its direct path. In the beginning Charnac would get his hopes up that he was being taken to see Shamus, but that was never the case. Only to the torturing cell, where Charnac would be stripped and then held down on the stone floor. Then the guard would strike Charnac with a special club. At the head of the club was a small spiked ball. The spikes were no larger than an quarter of an inch in length but the tips would be filled with a liquid that would enter the skin. As the liquid would mix with the fleshy layers under the surface of the skin, a burning sensation would follow. Charnac felt as if he was being burned alive from the inside. Once the guard had beaten Charnac for a few minutes he would leave him strapped to the floor naked and sweating from the burns. As the burning subsided the cold of the stone floor swept into Charnac’s body. He would soon be shivering all over, the straps now pulling on his arms and legs. The guard would then fetch Charnac after a few hours and dragged him back to his cell. The guard only laughing at Charnac. Never a word was spoken only the chuckling.

Now Charnac could anticipate the sessions and his body would start feeling the discomfort even before his jailor came for him. Charnac knew that if Ben and Lucy were ever caught, Shamus would not hesitate to torture him to death. Shamus might even enjoy watching or even join in. Once Shamus had entered the cell and visited Charnac, again no words were said. Charnac had seen Shamus’ face as he was in pain. Shamus’ eyes would glimmer and a smirky smile would creep across, growing larger as Charnac showed more pain. Charnac quickly pushed that idea out of his mind.

What came to his mind now was the vision he had of Ben watching him. Ben looked in good shape in Charnac’s vision. But something about him had changed, something unnatural but powerful. Charnac was concerned about that. Ben was growing up quickly, Charnac could sense it. He laid back down gently and thought about the vision. Shamus’ guard was not coming at the moment so Charnac allowed himself to relax, soon he was asleep.

Charnac instantly was back traveling through space. He could feel himself floating through the air. He was drifting back to her. His true love was waiting for him. How long had it been since she was separated from him? Too long. The air was clean and crisp as he floated across the landscape. Far below was the dark grey land of his captor. He floated South toward his love. He went past the bird sanctuary where Parmesis, his long time friend took the twins away to safety just in time before Shamus and his Terrodons attacked. Charnac was drawn toward the twins’ path, to the lake across the fields and then toward Growler, the Giant. Charnac looked down and saw the house abandoned.

Again he was gliding. Now over the cliffs of snow. Suddenly he was plummeting down to the bottom of the mountain where the White Tiger roams. Charnac was now following Ben’s path. He fell into a hole floating through the darkness where Sylvester slithered. Still Charnac continued, out back into the light through the forest of the ghosts ever heading toward her. She would be waiting. Almost there, he could almost see here now. Then Charnac awoke in the dark and cold. He was back in the real world, a prisoner held away from her. He shivered and curled himself tighter.

Paddy was lost. Panic set in. Where was he headed? The darkness was coming and how could he have gotten lost? He swore he never got lost and that he was going in the right direction. The forest was enchanted and no matter which way he turned he would replace himself back where he started. The same trees and bushes, the thick thorns he struggled through again and again. He could see the sun in the west and knew all he had to do was follow that and he would be back to camp.

Unfortunately the trees blocked his view of the sun and shadows were everywhere, some going one way, others the other way. Paddy began to question himself and his imagination was getting the best of him. The forest was working on him. He had heard the stories and legends of the woods and now he was stuck in them.

Paddy stopped and closed his eyes and listened to the trees. What was the secret of this place? Paddy tried to remember the stories from his youth. “Close thine eyes and walk with your heart.” A verse he retained. Paddy began to walk with his eyes shut. He followed his instincts, trying not to think things through. Noises around him, the dark world began to pop, chirp, snap, and bristle around him. Still he followed his course with eyes shut. In his mind he focused on the camp and Lucy. Paddy walked without his arms outstretched, trusting his heart he continued to walk without running into things nor misstepping. Paddy felt as if he were walking on air through a tunnel. It was working. Then he heard him. A voice.

“Hey there! You Paddy, you crazy man. Open your eyes you fool!” The voice bellowed to him.

Paddy opened his eyes and right in front of him was Pierre. Paddy knew this man and he was not his friend. Paddy jumped back.

“Don’t worry, if I wanted to hurt you I would have when you had your eyes shut, you fool. What the hell were you doing?”

“Following my heart.” Paddy said reluctantly.

“Oh the old legends I see. Ha ha ha, you believe those stories?” Pierre teased Paddy. Everyone had heard the stories of the enchanted forest even Pierre. To Pierre these were childhood fantasies and only fools believed them, trying to convince himself.

“Yes.” Paddy said defiantly.

“Ok, well your friends have already left for the sunken kingdom. I told them I would look for you. So here we are. Now let’s get out of here. It’s starting to get dark and as your legends tell you it is not good to be here in the dark.” Pierre said with a chuckle. Half joking, half believing himself. Once Pierre had not believed in all the stories and superstitions but now he had seen things that caused his non-belief to be challenged.

The two new companions began their trek back to their friends. Pierre leading the way through the thick brush. Suddenly Pierre stopped. He grabbed Paddy’s arm and motioned him to be quiet. The two stood completely still. Off to the left they heard a twig snapped.

“Down!” Pierre threw Paddy to the ground. He spun around, wielding his sword within a second. Pierre sliced out into the darkness. A wicked cry filled the air. Pierre swung again and the beast fell silent before Paddy. Paddy opened his eyes and there lay in front of him was a huge mouth with monstrous teeth. Paddy quickly scrambled to his feet.

“What the hell is that!” He shouted.

“That my dear friend is a Practodon. Similar to a Terrordon but much smaller and easier to kill.” Pierre said nonchalantly.

“Practodon and Terrordons? What are you saying?” Paddy was astonished by the site.

“Well, at least the Practodon is right in front of you. I would say it exists. Come on we need to get out of here. They don’t live by themselves.”

Paddy and Pierre began to run quickly through the woods. Pierre knew where they had to go but it was a chance. The two could not stay out here searching for the Sunken Kingdom’s entrance in the dark. He knew of only one place for sure around this place, but was it still safe? He had to take a chance.

“Paddy, follow me.” Pierre pointing through the brush.

“You know the way to the Sunken Kingdom?”

“No, but someplace else that I hope is safer than here. Now stop talking and keep running. Our little friend back there must have friends and they won’t take kindly to us killing him.”

Pierre led Paddy away from the Sunken Kingdom but to a place he had known many years ago. He just hoped that no one or something else had found it. Through the woods the two ran. Paddy was beginning to tire.

“I must stop.” He said winded.

“You must keep going. It is not too far.” Pierre needed to make sure Paddy continued.

“Nothing is following us.” Paddy argued.

“You want to bet on that?” Pierre looked directly into Paddy’s eyes.

“We have not heard a thing for the past hour. I must stop.” Paddy stopped running and began to lean over trying to catch his breath. The sweat was pouring over his face. Pierre stopped as well. He knew Paddy was out of shape and if he had a heart attack now, things would be worse. The two paused. Pierre handed Paddy a bag.

“Here drink some of this, but go lightly. We need to continue before it gets too dark.”

Paddy grabbed the bag and quickly took a deep swig.

Coughing loudly, spitting liquid from his mouth. Paddy tried to catch his breath.

“What the hell is that?”

Pierre started to laugh.

“I told you to go lightly.”

Suddenly the trees around them began to shake. Twigs and limbs were cracking.

“Move!” Pierre yelled at Paddy. The two were off again. The noise behind them was closing on them. Something was not alone chasing them now. Paddy was now as concerned as Pierre was. If they got caught this time he did not think Pierre would be able to fight them off.

“Come on, not far but we need to get there.” Pierre shouted.

Pierre dragged Paddy by the collar. He guided him through the woods, around trees and over holes in the ground. Pierre knew this area and was now moving by instinct. No time to think.

“Jump!” Pierre and Paddy suddenly jumped through a hole, straight down they went, falling, yelling.